+ Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist – September 21^st, 2025 +

Ezekiel 2:8-3:11; Ephesians 4:7-16; Matthew 9:9-13

Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church

Milton, WA

“Riches to Rags to Riches”

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

There’s a common pattern in some of our favorite stories. You see it when… Cinderella goes from sweeping the ash heap to dancing with the prince at the royal ball. Charlie Bucket goes from living in poverty to running Wonka’s famous chocolate factory. Or Harry Potter goes from living in squalor in a cupboard, under a staircase at #3 privet drive to being a famous wizard.

We love these kinds of stories. The character is at a loss. Lowly. The least. Lacking something. And then something or someone – like a glass slipper, a golden ticket, or an owl comes along, and everything changes. From rags to riches.

You may not have realized it, but the story of St. Matthew is this kind of story. Except it’s a true story. And unlike most rags to riches stories in the history of the world, this one isn’t about starting a computer company out of a garage with some wit and grit, or building a steel empire out of elbow grease and ingenuity.

No. Matthew’s story is the opposite. He’s is not the hero of his own story. He doesn’t pull himself up by his sandal-straps. He doesn’t go from rags to riches on his own self-righteousness.

The change in Matthew. His repentance. Righteousness. Restoration. Faith, hope, and love. His life as a disciple, apostle, and evangelist did not come from within. It wasn’t found in his stacks of coins piled up in his tax booth. It all came from Jesus. By his word. Promise. And calling.

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

Matthew goes from tax collector to a disciple under the cross.

Matthew goes from avarice to being an apostle.

Matthew goes from being a traitor and enemy to his fellow Israelites, to being an evangelist, bringing the riches of the Gospel to Israel and to all nations.

Matthew goes from being a slave to mammon to being a servant of the God of mercy. Rich in grace, mercy, and outrageous forgiveness for undeserving sinners…like Matthew…and you and me.

You see, this is a different kind of rags to riches story. Or better yet, a riches to rags to greater riches kind of story. For the story of the call of St. Matthew is a story of the Gospel…from death to life.

A good friend of mine used to say it like this. Christ died for sinners, and you qualify.

Matthew understood that. So did many of his fellow tax collectors and sinners. No wonder Matthew threw a feast for his friends and for the friend of sinners. It was a rather odd guest list. Tax collectors. Sinners. Losers. Lost. Lowly. Least. Oh, and the Pharisees.

Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 

Good question. Why does Jesus eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners? Because Jesus comes for sinners. For Matthew. For you. For me. We’re all what Jesus says in Matthew 6: blessed are the poor in spirit. Beggars before the king. Sick and in need of the Great Physician. Nothing but filthy rags of self-righteousness in need of Jesus to cover us all up in his royal, redeeming righteousness.

Eating at table with Jesus is an invitation to receive him and his forgiveness, his acceptance, restoration, and fellowship with God. Not to embrace or tolerate sin, but to forgive. Heal. Restore. Renew. Redeem.

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ¹³ Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

That’s good news, and not just for Matthew and his friends. For the story of Matthew’s call is not only the story of the Gospel. It is your story and mine as well.

Like Matthew we are not the hero of our own story. We are not the ones who go from rags to riches by our own self-righteousness. We are like Matthew was. Dead in trespasses. Lost. Least. Lowly. Losers. Outcast. Broken. Sick. Failures. Lovers of self and our self-made gods. And we’re like the Pharisees too. Smug. Self-righteous. Secure.

But along comes Jesus as he did to Matthew and the Pharisees. “I come only for the sick. For sinners. Are you one too? Will you admit that you need healing? Rescue? Aren’t you tired of your sorrows and suffering and sin? Won’t you come here and check in to my hospital. Come. Give it to me. I’ll take the sin, the pride, the sickness that hurts your soul. I’ll take it all. All your sins…their mine now. All my holiness. Righteousness. Forgiveness. Mercy. It’s all yours now.”

Like Matthew we were traitors and enemies of God, but in Christ you are welcomed, embraced, and reconciled. Like Matthew we were dead in trespasses and sins but now Christ has made you alive in his cross and resurrection. Like Matthew we were unclean, but in Christ you are holy given a seat of honor next to Christ the crucified and risen King. Like Matthew we were guilty by association with sinners and our own sin, but now Christ pardons you: innocent by proclamation:

You’re forgiven all your sin.

Jesus crucified for you is the greatest rags to riches story of them all. Jesus became the traitor, the unclean, sinner, the lost, loser, and least. For you. Jesus swallowed all of our sickness on the cross and in exchange he does for you what he did for Matthew and his friends.

Jesus Spreads a table. Breaks bread. Pours wine. He still delights to eat and drink with sinners. Here, the same body and blood that healed and called Matthew so long ago comes to you today with healing and mercy and forgiveness.

Jesus throws his arms wide open and says, “There’s a place at my table for you. Welcome home. And…Come, follow me.”

A blessed St. Matthew’s Day to each of you…

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.